Rating: 
Summary: Witty but Iffy
Review: Gore Vidal's recognition arises primarily from his literary work, specifically his contributions to the historical fiction genre. Through the publications of classics like 'Burr,' Lincoln,' and 'Empire,' Vidal made our political predecessors and their epochs entertaining and familiar to the modern reader. Vidal has also written wider ranging works, from an apocalyptic tale (Kalki), to Roman history (Julian), and religion (Live from Golgotha). In 'Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Cheney-Bush Junta,' Vidal invokes another aspect of his persona: political critic. 'Dreaming War' is a collection of essays and articles outlining the author's belief that America, the Land of the Free, is in actuality an empire stretching across the globe. According to Vidal, not only is the United States an empire, it has been one since the end of the Second World War with the inauguration of what he calls 'the national security state.'The title of the book is a bit of a misnomer. Only one or two essays deal with the present regime in Washington. According to these two essays, Bush and his cronies (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice) are shills for big business and oil interests. Vidal argues that the terrorist attacks of September 11th provided the impetus to seize Afghanistan and Iraq in order to fill lots of drums with oil. Moreover, our moves into the region will ultimately result in an attempt to grab the oil rich Caspian Sea region. The author questions why jet fighters were not sent up immediately on that fateful day, insinuating that the attack served to step up American elite grabs for further global economic control. The essays question the legitimacy of Bush's presidency by castigating the Supreme Court as a distant body uninterested in preserving the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The other essays are more interesting. Several serve as rebuttals to critics of Vidal, such as a scathing response to Louis Menand, author of 'The Metaphysical Club' and sometimes contributor to the New York Review of Books over criticisms against Chomsky and Vidal. One essay assails the History Channel for showing a Vidal documentary about the presidency without giving the author a chance to sit with the discussion panel to defend his work. The author goes through his critics' claims and attempts to refute them piecemeal, with occasional success. The most interesting article in this collection is 'The Last Empire,' a caustic critique of American foreign policy since the end of WWII. Vidal argues that the American people have been victims of media and corporate elites for over half a century. In the author's world, American foreign policy has repeatedly trampled on the sovereignty of other nations, promoted American corporate interests to the exclusion of freedom for third world peoples, and consistently and vigorously promoted 'threats' that require a massive amount of tax dollars to combat while allowing the government to acquire ever greater powers over the American people. The collapse of the Soviet Union and European communism in general required our government to construct another bogey in order to fuel their grabs for power. Vidal suggests that China may fill this need nicely in another ten years or so, and that the Middle East is another area that will give power elites an excuse to rally the little people around the flag yet again. I really enjoyed reading this little collection of articles and essays, but not because I agree with all of his arguments. 'Dreaming War' reminds me that I need to read some of Gore's novels soon. His acidic wit is always worth the price of admission, and it is here in abundance. I really, REALLY tried hard not to laugh over this book but found it impossible. For example, here is what Vidal says about the introduction of the Domino Theory (the idea that one country falling to communism will cause neighboring countries to topple as well, like a string of dominos) in 1950: 'Thus, without shepards or even a napalm star, the domino theory was born in a humble State Department manger.' Now that is funny whether you agree or disagree with the author's claims about how every plan presented by our government is touted as holy gospel. The biggest problem with these essays is the almost total blackout on placing blame on the liberals. It amuses me to no end that reviews of this book shrilly denounce republicans without recognizing who shares the blame for the creation of a national security state and the subsequent imperialist empire Vidal so eloquently proclaims. Who presided over the post-war creation of imperial America? Liberals. Who involved us in Vietnam and then escalated it to unconscionable levels? Eisenhower had a hand, but it was the liberal troika of Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson who did the most damage. Who controlled Congress for forty years and funded the enormous expansion of nuclear weapons and police actions around the globe? Liberals. These facts seem to be lost on the author. He even goes so far as to wonder aloud if Clinton could oversee the destruction of the national security state, a laughable proposition when one remembers that Clinton sent troops to Haiti, Bosnia, started a war with Serbia, and bombed the Sudan and Afghanistan. If you subscribe to Gore Vidal's theories on our predicament, you cannot make a distinction between liberal and conservative. Guilt must descend on both political parties. If anything, the 'Bush-Cheney Junta' is only the latest in a long series of imperialist maneuvers. I would read this collection again even though I am chary about many of the claims contained between the covers. 'Dreaming War' does inspire me to again read other works by Gore Vidal. His wit is astonishing and well worth investigating even if you don't agree with his ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: The Dreams of the Rulers
Review: In the dead of night when all's quiet on the Western Front, like a car accident, one is drawn to watch but fearful of what might be seen. What do the members of the American ruling class dream of at night? They dream not of what most Americans dream when at home, in bed, with a beautiful women. Their sexual libido energy is drawn elsewhere. Instead of the completion of its appointed rounds, our rulers dream of conquest, world control and domination and wealth stacked upon wealth. But fear not, ignorant Americans, Gore Vidal tells it all to you in a wonderfully and beautifully written volume, slim, right to the point, documentary, accusatory, a modern day Emile Zola. For the supposed majority of Americans who the corporate media reported as supporters of the latest in a long series of national security wars, the well crafted words of Gore Vidal will mean nothing--left-wing, conspiratorial, hyperbole, everything but whether they are true of not. Vidal talks of the real consequences of 9/11--the death of American civil liberties, the end of air travel to exotic locales where Americans are rightly hated for the actions of their government and the refusal of most Americans to object, the documented and unchallenged lies of American leaders, the abysmal igorance of Americans to their own history. As in "The American Presidency" Vidal offers some of the best documentation and critque around. When reading his books, one wants to read the books he mentions as source material. In doing so, one moves a step closer to becoming an enemy of the state--an informed citizen who knows that the press and the government are in it together and are both incredible liars. Like freeing oneself of religious and social shackles by thinking of one's fellow man as a person and not a --, reading and absorbing Vidal's words are an intoxicating and liberating experience. One of the many precepts proferred by Vidal is the idea that in July 1947, the American Republic died and the National Security State was born. To this day, and beyond, we suffer the consequences in unrealized dreams, poverty, long-term unemployment, a destruction of the spirit, a loss of faith, an innate knowledge that the institutions which are theoretically designed to uplift us, make us feel part of a cultural whole, are empty vessels deficient in all respects. Once shed, the spirit is free to develop original ideas, thoughts and the means to achieve them--a dangerous concept under "Homeland Security" and the "USA Patriot Act." Vidal's book begins at the beginning--the creation of the National Security State, the betrayals by Roosevelt and Truman at Yalta and Potsdam, the cold war. Vidal destroys the images and icons created by the Cheney-Bush junta as such the doctrine of pre-emptive strike,9/11 and the personification of ...--Osama Bin Laden. Vidal outlines the familiar story how the corporate media, the usual suspects, dutifully lined up to support "the war." Gore Vidal has written a real page turner, an enjoyable, yet frighteningly realistic and important slim volume containing the dynamite necessary to demolish the b.s spewing forth from Washington re-writing history. Vidal reminds us its necessary to keep your eye on the prize--real history.
Rating:
Summary: Sheer Brilliance
Review: Vidal's sharp-witted discussion of everything from 9/11 to the various dirty little wars that the military-industrial complex conducts is refreshing, eye-opening, and at times horrifying. If you are in search of dialogue about some of the more difficult issues that the mainstream media won't even touch, (yet), then this is a good book for you. Why didn't the Commander in Chief scramble the F16s immediately upon hearing of hijacked jumbo jets? Why did Saddam Hussein suddenly become Public Enemy #1 (AGAIN) when Osama Bin Laden is still (apparently) on the loose? Why did the USA invade Afghanistan when the hijackers were probably Saudis? Was Bush 'elected' or 'selected' by the Supreme Court? Is the USA a Democratic Republic or a National Security State? Did the White House have 'a priori' knowledge of terrorists using commercial aircraft as offensive weapons? Don't you deserve to know?
Rating:
Summary: Gore Vidal is an amazing writer with an amazing mind
Review: DREAMING WAR: BLOOD FOR OIL AND THE CHENEY-BUSH JUNTA is an eye-opening account of how corporate interests now fuel our country and are the leading causes for our war with Iraq. Gore Vidal is an excellent writer who exposes many of the lies perpetrated by the Bush administration (he calls Bush a cheerleader, saying this high school activity was the only thing of note he's done with his life), including the likely falsification of poll statistics to make it appear that the US citizens support war. Vidal writes that we are typically an isolationist country who need to be manipulated by our politicians into thinking entry into foreign war is necessary. The attacks of September 11th, writes Vidal, were just such a manipulation (read the book to understand what he means). DREAMING WAR: BLOOD FOR OIL AND THE CHENEY-BUSH JUNTA is the first book I have ever read by Gore Vidal, and it's one of the best books I've ever read! He really is one of the best writers I've ever come across. My favorite chapter is "Mickey Mouse, Historian" where Vidal lampoons the difficulty of teaching history in an atmosphere where obeisance must be paid to the cheerful dictates of imaginary rodents.
Rating:
Summary: Vidal's "Dreaming" outlines a nightmare.
Review: Vidal's style strikes gold even if his message is occasionally less lustrous. Overall, this is a dandy read, but the conspiracy yarns get spun too far. I sympathize with Vidal's affection of the great American republic (did it ever exist?), and his insight on the extent of the American empire cuts through the rhetoric and disinformation. The essays overlap quite a bit, and the same ground gets covered several times. Some of the theories are intriguing, but are awfully damning to float with little evidence. Any fan of Mr. Vidal's other political writings will enjoy this monograph. I recommend, with minor reservations.
Rating:
Summary: Blood For Oil
Review: This book was written by Gore Vidal, whose place was secured as a prolific preacher against America's imperialist policies before the events of September 11 .What I liked about this book is the frankly and courageous words that Vidal has written them,and the description about the American's administration's plans ,and how they use the "Terrorism" word to find a justification to invade other countries ,and exploit their vital resources. And that's really what happened in Afghanistan and Iraq ,and nobody knows which country is next . In my opinion I think this book is worth to read if you interested in politics
Rating:
Summary: Superbly vitriolic.
Review: Gore Vidal unveils superbly the real interests behind the recent US foreign policy: follow the oil.
As a proof, one should look at the number of former oil company employees in the US and also in the Afghan government. His analysis of the US domestic situation is truly severe: the many are hijacked by the few, who own the corporations, which themselves control the media (directly or indirectly through their advertising expenses). Into the bargain, the few are laying their hands on a massive part (51%) of the US discretionary budget via military expenses and their corollary, defense contracts with fat margins. Gore Vidal rightly speaks of a militarized economy. While his domestic analysis is harsh, his foreign policy analysis is tragic: the US, after World War II, intervened through more than 250 military strikes in the policy of other countries, mostly against democratically elected governments (Vidal's example: president Arbenz in Guatemala). Gore Vidal has real propositions for fundamental changes: break-up of the oligopolies, devolution or a new constitutional convention(!), but for me, those will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to realize. This small book contains still more very interesting and important items.
If you want to know more about Pearl Harbor, about Bush and Cheney as draft dodgers, or cynical comments of the WSJ about the Taliban (how the media follow the oil), you should read this much needed book.
Rating: 
Summary: Uniformed ... theory
Review: Vidal certainly has a much more impressive writing style than most polmerists, but it can't save this collection of uniformed ... theory essays. Always questioning goverment is a good position, but accusatory prose needs plausability and evidence. I'm Awaiting Mailer's effort.
Rating:
Summary: Yet more information...Get more information....
Review: Mr. Vidal as done it again. He supplies this nation and indeed the world with cold hard facts. In this 'information age' there is proper and thoughtful scholarship available...but you must sift through intentional misinformation (disinformation) to find it. Do not dispair, keep looking...keep reading...it's only the future of mankind that's at stake.
Mr. Vidal pulls no punches, rare today. Here you will find much of what you need to know about a small group of fanatics who use excuses and pretext to foster world domination. Your 'local news' is not telling you what is happening...we must rely on the true historians like Mr. Vidal, Mr. Chomsky and Mr. Mailer to bring us facts that we would never find elseware.
The world voice has grasped this decades ago...America is still unable to comprehend...but she's capable of it. Read these essays and learn something useful.
May God...or if you prefer, the Gods keep Mr. Vidal and the others healthy and wise for many generations to come...if we indeed have that long.
Rating: 
Summary: crypto wise guy
Review: The book is an essay collection. His talents and intelligence have to be respected, but the key to understanding Mr. Vidal is to subtract the "tainment" from the "info." In the literary field he is the king of infotainment, but be sure in reading it you know how to subtract.
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